Democracy and Dutch Discoveries

My first week was a whirlwind! Here are some of the highlights.

I landed in Amsterdam on Sunday and began my internship with International IDEA in The Hague the very next day. Noticing my jet lag, the team was very understanding and kept me well supplied with coffee throughout the day. During my first coffee, I met with Sumit, Head of the Constitution-Building Programme, who gave me an in-depth overview of IDEA’s recent projects and current priorities. His rundown helped frame the work I would be doing this summer and the potential projects that I would be contributing to.

Back at the office, I began working with Senior Adviser, Kimana, on editing and consolidating the biographies of IDEA’s internal and external experts. This evolving master list includes hundreds of professionals from various partner organizations, and I continued to assist Kimana with it throughout the week. These early tasks gave me a valuable look into the expertise and reach of IDEA’s constitution-building network.

Over lunch (fourth coffee by then), I had the opportunity to get to know the rest of the team, including Sharon, Elly, and Alex. Later in the week, I also met Adem and Mags, completing the group in The Hague. Everyone has been incredibly generous with their time and knowledge, making for a very welcoming environment.

IDEA’s office is located in the heart of The Hague, inside De Passage—a beautiful, glass-roofed arcade that dates back to 1885. The placard above IDEA’s door proudly reads “Passage to Democracy,” a fitting entrance for a program dedicated to democratic constitutional design.

Outside of work, I’ve settled into my new home in the seaside neighborhood of Scheveningen. I wasn’t sure what to expect living near the beach, but I’ve really enjoyed the area—especially its proximity to Oostduinpark, a natural dune preserve. Midweek, I inherited the office bike (available to whichever intern arrives first for the summer!) and have been biking to work ever since. The 20-minute commute has been both exhilarating and slightly scary—adjusting to biking in a Dutch city takes some time and nerve. A colleague advised me to “just be confident” while biking in the city, and it’s been a surprisingly effective strategy. After work, I’ve been exploring different beaches and trails near Scheveningen, taking advantage of the long summer evenings. On Friday, I biked all the way to Leiden, had dinner, and returned in time to catch the sunset over the water.

As for The Hague itself, the city truly feels like an international hub—on any given street, you’ll hear several different languages being spoken. Preparations for the NATO Summit (scheduled to take place here in June) are well underway, and the new construction and heightened security measures have already started to affect traffic. I got the bike just in time!

Stay tuned for more reflections as I continue exploring The Hague and learning about constitutional design and IDEA’s role in advancing global democratic development!